November 2015

Dear Friend,

I am pleased to present my electronic newsletter. These e-newsletters
enable me to provide information about issues, events and activities in
Harrisburg and around the 21st Senatorial District to you in a timely manner
while saving postage costs.

If you find this e-newsletter useful, I invite you to visit my website
www.senatorscotthutchinson.com
for more information about your state government. If you do not wish to receive
these e-newsletters, please click the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of the
page.

Sincerely,

Scott

Groundbreaking Begins Work on Glade Run Lake Restoration

I joined with Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau
President Jack Cohen, Senator Don White, Senator Randy Vulakovich,
District 2 Commissioner for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission Rocco Ali, Butler County Commissioner Bill McCarrier,
Glade Run Lake Conservancy President Siggy Pehel, Assistant to the
Middlesex Township Manager and Glade Run Lake Conservancy Vice
President Bonnie Chappel for a ceremony on October 15 marking the
beginning of the Glade Run Dam restoration project.

I was pleased to join with my colleagues Senators Randy Vulakovich and Don
White and local officials on October 15 for a groundbreaking ceremony marking
the start of the rehabilitation and restoration of Glade Run Lake Dam.

The project involves the reconstruction of the dam's concrete spillway and
the reinforcement of its embankment. Safety concerns about the dam forced the
Fish and Boat Commission to drain the 52-acre lake in Middlesex Township, Butler
County, several years ago. The work is expected to be completed next year with
the refilled lake reopening to the public in 2017.

“This project represents a commitment by the community and the Commonwealth
to preserve and protect the natural resources of our area through the
restoration of Glade Run Dam and Lake. The scope of this project goes well
beyond one community or even Butler County. This project provides regional
benefits, economically and environmentally, and I was happy to work with my
colleagues to help bring it to fruition.”

The project has the support of the Fish and Boat Commission, a number of
local municipalities, the Butler County Board of Commissioners and the Glade Run
Lake Conservancy, a 2,000-member citizens group formed after the lake was
drained in June 2011.

Budget Impasse Update

We are now into the fifth month without a state budget and we seem no closer
to a resolution now than we were on June 30 when the last spending plan expired.
Governor Wolf remains committed to his tax hikes and spending increases and has
publicly stated that he will not “cave” on his position. Legislative Republicans
remain steadfast in our opposition to those broad based tax increases.

Responding to growing pleas from schools and community groups to release
overdue state funding, Senate Republicans led an effort at the end of October to
override Governor Wolf’s veto of an emergency budget passed in September by the
General Assembly.

The override, which would have provided badly needed funding while
negotiations continue on a final budget agreement, required a two-thirds
majority, or 33 votes. While all 30 Republican Senators voted for the measure,
the emergency funding veto override vote received no Democrat support.

Ironically, just hours before the vote, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale
told members of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee that the lack of state
funding is having a devastating financial impact on schools throughout
Pennsylvania. School districts have already borrowed nearly a half-billion
dollars – plus interest payments of $15 million – because of the budget impasse,
and that number may double by Thanksgiving.

Honoring Our Veterans Plates for Motorcycles Now Available

The plate, authorized by Act 17 of 2015, features the standard registration
plate design in blue, white and yellow with an image of the American Flag and a
Bald Eagle with the words “Honoring Our Veterans” at the bottom of the plate.

The plate is available for $35 with $15 from each sale going to the Veterans’
Trust Fund, which supports and assists veterans and their families through
grants to service and charitable organizations.

Special Senate Committee Establishes Email Address, Website

Emergencies, especially those created by severe weather, can arise in
Pennsylvania at any time throughout the year. It is important to know that help
may not be immediately available when an emergency arises, so PEMA recommends
that residents should always be stocked with enough provisions to last at least
72 hours. The ReadyPA app and website provide sample checklists, contact lists
and other important tools to help the public prepare for emergency situations.

The bipartisan Special Committee on Senate Address recently unveiled a new
website to provide information about its activities to the public. The Committee
will conduct a thorough and deliberative review of the issue of whether the
Attorney General is able to serve in her position under a suspended law license.

The scope of the committee is to investigate whether Attorney General
Kathleen Kane can continue to do her job with a suspended law license. If it
determines she cannot, that finding may be grounds for the Senate to utilize its
rarely-tapped constitutional power of removal. The Committee will issue a
written report with its preliminary findings by November 25, 2015.

LIHEAP Applications Now Being Accepted

Individuals and families who are having trouble with their energy bills this
winter can apply now for the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The program provides grants to help low-income families pay heating bills.
LIHEAP also provides crisis grants for families who experience heating
emergencies, such as a broken furnace, utility termination or fuel shortage.
Regular applications for the program will be accepted through April 1.

LIHEAP applications can be completed online on the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us.
More information is also available by calling the statewide toll-free LIHEAP
hotline at (866) 857-7095.

In order to apply for LIHEAP, applicants will be required to submit the names
of all people in the household, Social Security numbers for all household
members, proof of income for all household members and a recent heating bill.

Consumers should also contact their utility companies to learn more about
other programs available to ensure that all local residents will be able to stay
warm this winter. Many local utility companies offer assistance plans in
addition to LIHEAP.

DEP Accepting 2016 Environmental Education Grant Applications

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now accepting
applications from invited schools, colleges and universities, county
conservation districts, nonprofit organizations, municipalities and businesses
for Environmental Education Grants of up to $3,000. The deadline to apply is
December 18.

More information and applications are available online at
www.dep.state.pa.us, or by contacting DEP’s Environmental Education
and Information Center at 717-772-1828 or adevine@pa.gov.

In April, DEP awarded 110 grants totaling more than $304,000 to groups in
support of environmental education programs across the state. Since the
program’s inception, DEP has awarded more than $9.8 million in grants.

Governor’s Awards for Local Government Excellence

Nominations are being accepted until December 1 for the Governor’s Awards for
Local Government Excellence. These awards are presented each year to local
government leaders who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving
public services through innovative projects or initiatives. There are nine award
categories including Building Community Partnerships, Fiscal Accountability &
Best Management Practices, and Intergovernmental Cooperation. For a full list of
categories or to submit a nomination, please visit www.newPA.com/lgawards.